Drummers on Drumming Big Fat Five: Sterling Laws (NIKI, Natasha Bedingfield, Matt Berninger) Shares His Top 5 Influential Records
Welcome back to Big Fat Five—a segment of Drummers on Drumming brought to you by Big Fat Snare Drum, where I chat with my favorite drummers about the stories and records that shaped their sound. I’m your host, Ben Hilzinger, and this week’s guest is the incredible Sterling Laws.
Sterling is a fellow Pacific Northwest native now based in Los Angeles, but more importantly, he’s a Grammy-nominated drummer whose resume is as impressive as it gets. He’s worked with artists like Olivia Rodrigo, Kim Gordon, Chappell Roan, NIKI, Matt Berninger, Liz Phair, The War on Drugs, Linda Perry, Aly & AJ, Lo Moon, Dave Stewart, and many more.
Sterling is out there doing the thing and still manages to bring a unique perspective to the kit while working with such a diverse roster of artists—a quality that’s both rare and inspiring. It’s exactly why I was so excited to talk to him.
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Drummers on Drumming (the book) takes you inside the stories, records, and moments that shaped some of the world’s greatest drummers. Built on the Big Fat Five format of digging into top influences, it’s packed with candid interviews and personal insights. Whether you’re just starting out or have been playing for years, this book is here to inspire you to sharpen your skills and find your own voice behind the kit.
STERLING'S BIG FAT FIVE:
Album - Badmotorfinger
Artist - Soundgarden
Release Year - 1991
Key Track(s) - Rusty Cage, Searching With My Good Eye Closed, Jesus Christ Pose
Drummer - Matt Cameron
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Album - In Rainbows
Artist - Radiohead
Release Year - 2007
Key Track(s) - 15 Steps, Bodysnatchers, Weird Fishes, Reckoner
Drummer - Philip Selway
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Album - Future Self
Artist - The Globes
Release Year - 2011
Key Track(s) Pigeon, Stay Awake, A Stitch Couldn't Save The World
Drummer - Marcus Ourada
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Album - Boxer
Artist - The National
Release Year - 2007
Key Track(s) - Mistaken For Strangers, Brainy, Apartment Story
Drummer - Bryan Devendorf
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Album - Live From The Ryman And More
Artist - Sheryl Crow
Release Year - 2019
Key Track(s) - A Change Would Do You Good, Everything Is Broken, Maybe Angels, If It Makes You Happy
Drummer - Fred Eltringham
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